Paddy Pimblett on Makhachev touting him as potential title challenger

Paddy Pimblett plans on giving UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev something to be excited about.

Unbeaten in the octagon, Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) entered the top 15 lightweight rankings after a quick submission finish of King Green at UFC 304 in July.

Although Pimblett likely is a few fights away before entering title contention, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) was asked about the popular Brit during a recent UFC Q&A in Abu Dhabi.

“When he deserve, why not?” Makhachev said. “If he won the next couple matches, when he’s going to be like top 10, why not? Because I don’t have some exciting fights in my division. We need some new names.

“I see how he finish King. It was a good performance, and now it’s the time that he has good opponents, when he’s at the top. Now he has to train more. Now it’s all guys who are so dangerous.”

Makhachev has found it hard to get up for a rematch with No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan since he already beat him in April 2019. Makhachev was looking forward to a move up to welterweight to chase dual-champion status, but his plans were put on hold after his friend Belal Muhammad claimed the title.

Pimblett reacted to Makhachev’s praise, and plans on seeing him in the near future.

“Did you see that where Islam was talking about me the other day? He said, ‘He’s an exciting fighter,’ and that ‘If he keeps winning, you never know,’” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “‘He could fight for the belt,’ and that. You know Islam, we’re coming. We’re coming brother, we’re coming.”